958 THE AMERICAN FARMER 



pating in the debates of lyceums, where the topics of interest on general or special subjects 

 are discussed, etc., all of which are highly educating in their influence, and in very many 

 instances have been made to well supply the deficiency of educational advantages in the 

 earlier life of individuals. 



Form of Constitution Suitable for a Literary or Debating Society. The 



following form of a Constitution and By-laws, adapted to a literary or debating society, and 

 copied from the records of a society of this kind, may be found convenient as a model or 

 guide in general outline, in the formation of such societies. Of course, this form is not in 

 tended as a model to be implicitly followed, but as a form to be modified or deviated from 

 to suit the circumstances. 



CONSTITUTION, 

 OP THE SOCIETY OF (name of city or town, and State.) 



PREAMBLE. 



&quot;We, the undersigned, do declare ourselves an Association for mutual improvement in 

 Elocution, Composition, and Debate, and for enlarging our fund of general intelligence : in the 

 pursuit of which objects we desire to exhibit a due consideration for the opinions and feelings 

 of others, to maintain a perfect command of temper in all our intercourse, to seek for truth in 

 all our exercises and have adopted for our government the following Constitution, 



CONSTITUTION. 



ARTICLE I. NAME. 

 This Association shall be known by the name of the SOCIETY. 



ARTICLE II. OFFICERS. 



The Officers of the Association shall consist of a President, a Vice-President, Eecording 

 Secretary, Corresponding Secretary, and Treasurer, who shall constitute a Board of Directors; 

 also two Tellers and an Editor. 



ARTICLE III. OFFICERS DUTIES. 



Section 1. It shall be the duty of the President to preside at all meetings of the Society, to 

 enforce a due observance of the Constitution, By-Laws, and Eules of Order; to decide all 

 questions of order, offer for consideration all motions regularly made, apportion duties two 

 weeks in advance, call special meetings, appoint all committees not otherwise provided for, 

 and perform such other duties as his office may require. He shall make no motion or amend 

 ment, nor vote on any question or motion, unless the Society be equally divided, when he 

 shall give the casting vote. 



Sec. 2. In the absence of the President, the Vice-President shall perform the duties of 

 that officer, and shall be Chairman of the Board of Directors. 



Sec. 3. The Recording Secretary shall keep in a book, provided for the purpose, a 

 record of the proceedings of the Society; also a record of the name and residence of each 

 member, showing when he was admitted, and when he died, resigned, or was expelled ; keep 

 a record of the subjects debated, the disputants, and the decisions of the Society in a separate 

 book, and shall have charge of all books, documents, and papers belonging to the Society. 



Sec. 4. The Corresponding Secretary shall notify absent members of their duties for the 

 two succeeding meetings, also each person elected a member, of such election, and shall write 

 all communications. 



Sec. 5. The Treasurer shall receive all moneys belonging to the Society; keep an 

 account of all dues and fines, and of all receipts and expenditures; notify each member 

 monthly of his dues and fines, and collect the same; and shall call the Roll at the opening and* 

 close of each meeting. He shall report the state of the Treasury whenever required by a 

 resolution of the Society, and shall make no payments without a written order from the 

 President, and countersigned by the Recording Secretary. 



